Machine-tool controller

ABSTRACT

Machine-tool controller ( 1 ) having: a drive control unit ( 13 ) controlling, based on moving-body operational commands, feed-mechanism actuation to control moving-body move-to points; a modeling data storage ( 15 ) storing moving-body and structural-element modeling data; and a screen display processor ( 20 ) for generating, based on the moving-body move-to points, data modeling the moving body having been moved into a move-to point, and for generating, and displaying on a screen display device ( 47 ) screen, image data in accordance with the modeling data generated. The screen display processor ( 20 ) generates and displays the image data in such a manner that a display-directing point, serving as a referent for displaying the moving body and being defined to be on that portion of the moving body where there is a risk of interference with the structural element, coincides with the central portion of the screen display device ( 47 ) screen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

In machine tools furnished with a moving body, with a feed mechanism fordriving the moving body to move it, with a structural element placed inthe region in which the moving body travels, and with a screen displaymeans for displaying image data, the present invention relates tomachine-tool controllers that in accordance with movements of the movingbody generate image data of the moving body and the structural element,and onscreen display the image data on the screen display means.

2. Description of the Related Art

Such machine-tool controllers known to data include the exampledisclosed in Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. H05-19837. Thismachine-tool controller is set up in a lathe provided with, for example,first and second main spindle for holding workpieces, first and secondtool rests for holding tools, a feed mechanism for moving the first andsecond tool rests in predetermined feed directions, and a display fordisplaying image data of the workpieces and tools onscreen.

In a situation in which, for example, a workpiece in the first mainspindle is machined with a tool in the first tool rest, and a workpiecein the second main spindle is machined by a tool in the second toolrest, the machine-tool controller splits the onscreen display area ofthe display into two display zones to display on one of the two displayzones the workpiece in the first main spindle and the tool in the firsttool rest, and on the other, the workpiece in the second main spindleand the tool in the second tool rest.

Therein, in displaying the tools on the display screen, the controllerrecognizes operational commands for the tools (tool rests) from amachining program, and generates image data showing the situation inwhich the tools have been moved into move-to points involving therecognized operational commands and onscreen displays the image data inthe respective display zones. Furthermore, this implementation isconfigured to display the workpieces continuously in the midportions ofthe display zones, in an immobilized state, and, due to limitations ofthe onscreen display area of the display, to display the tools onscreenonly when present within prescribed regions in the proximity of theworkpieces.

A machine-tool operator views the display screen to check on the tooloperations, whereby the positional relationships between the tools andthe workpieces, the status of tool movement, and the status of themachining of the workpieces by the tools can be verified, to checkwhether the tools and workpieces will interfere with each other.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. H05-19837.

A problem with the foregoing conventional machine-tool controller,however, is that in situations in which the tools are at a distance fromthe workpieces, because only the workpieces are displayed on the displayscreen and the tools are not displayed, the operator is unable to beaware of what sort of conditions the tools are under, leaving theoperator feeling uneasy. While it would be assumed that if the tools andworkpieces are apart from each other, ordinarily there is no risk oftheir interfering, still, it would be advantageous for an operator toalways be able to check on the status of the tools. A further problem isthat in situations in which a tool is machining the extremities of aworkpiece, for example, it can happen that the machined portion of theworkpiece is displayed at an edge portion of the display area, which isprohibitive of checking on the machined portion.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention brought about taking intoconsideration the circumstances described above, is to make available amachine-tool controller that allows the operator to work with greaterpeace of mind.

To achieve this object, a machine-tool controller according to apreferred aspect of the present invention is a controller provided in amachine tool including one moving body, a feed mechanism that drives themoving body to move it, one or more structural elements placed within aregion in which the moving body can travel, and a screen display meansthat displays image data, the machine-tool controller comprising: acontrol execution processing unit that controls, based on an operationalcommand for the moving body, actuation of the feed mechanism to controlat least a move-to point of the moving body; a modeling data storage inwhich modeling data relating to two-dimensional or three-dimensionalmodels of, and including geometry data defining shapes of, the movingbody and structural element, is stored; and a screen display processorthat receives from the control execution processing unit the moving bodymove-to point to generate, based on the received move-to point, and onthe modeling data stored in the modeling data storage, modeling datadescribing the situation in which the moving body has been moved intothe move-to point, and generates two-dimensional or three-dimensionalimage data in accordance with the generated modeling data to allow thescreen display means to display the generated image data onscreen, thescreen display processor being configured to, in generating the imagedata so as to be onscreen, generate the image data to display itonscreen so that a display-directing point that is a point as the basisfor displaying the moving body onscreen and is predefined in a part, onthe moving body, having a provability of interfering with the structuralelement, coincides with the center of the onscreen display area of thescreen display means.

With the machine-tool controller according to this aspect of the presentinvention, the modeling data relating to two-dimensional orthree-dimensional models of, and including at least the geometry datadefining the shapes of, the moving body and structural element, ispreviously generated as appropriate, and then stored in the modelingdata storage.

Specifically, examples of the moving bodies and structural elements mayinclude, if the machine tool is a lathe, the bed, the headstock disposedon the bed, the main spindle rotatably supported by the headstock, thechuck that mounted to the main spindle to hold the workpiece, theworkpiece, the saddle moveably disposed on the bed, the tool restdisposed on the saddle and holding the tool, the tool, the tailstockmoveably disposed on the bed, and the tailstock spindle held in thetailstock. Or, if the machine tool is a machining center, for instance,the bed, the column disposed on the bed, the spindle head moveablysupported on the column, the main spindle rotatably supported by thespindle head to hold the tool, the tool, and the table moveably disposedon the bed to hold the workpiece are also examples of the moving bodiesand structural elements. Moreover, covers and guards are also typicallyprovided to the machine tool in order to prevent the intrusion of chipsand cutting fluid, so these covers and guards are also examples of themoving bodies and structural elements.

The modeling data for all the moving bodies and structural elementsmaking up the machine tool, however, is not necessarily stored, so atleast modeling data for those of the moving bodies and structuralelements to be displayed on the screen of the screen display means maybe stored. Specifically, for example, in a lathe, to display a tool andworkpiece onscreen, the modeling data for the tool and workpiece may bestored, and to display onscreen a tool rest, tool, headstock, mainspindle, chuck, workpiece, tailstock and tailstock spindle, the modelingdata for them may be stored. Moreover, for example, in a machiningcenter, to display a tool and workpiece onscreen, likewise the modelingdata for the tool and workpiece may be stored, and to display onscreen aspindle head, main spindle, tool, table and workpiece, the modeling datafor them may be stored.

The modeling data may be generated as large as, and may be generated soas to be slightly larger than, the actual moving body and structuralelement.

And, when the moving body is moved with at least the move-to point beingcontrolled, as a result of the feed mechanism actuation under thecontrol of the control processing unit, on the basis of the operationalcommands involving an automatic operation and a manual operation for themoving body, the screen display processor executes a process ofgenerating, based on the moving body move-to point received from thecontrol execution processing unit, and on the modeling data stored inthe modeling data storage, the modeling data describing the situation inwhich the moving body has been moved into the move-to point to allow thescreen display means to display onscreen the two-dimensional ofthree-dimensional image data in accordance with the generated modelingdata.

Additionally, the image data is of a form designed so that thedisplay-directing point that is a point as the basis for displaying themoving body onscreen and is predefined in a part, on the moving body,having a probability of interfering with the structural element,coincides with the center of the onscreen display area of the screendisplay means. Owing to this data formation, that part, on the movingbody, having a probability of interfering with the structural element,is always displayed on the center of the display screen of the screendisplay means.

Furthermore, if for example the moving body is a tool, thedisplay-directing point presumably would be defined in a tip-endposition on the tool, and if the moving body is a saddle, tool rest,tailstock, tailstock spindle, spindle head, main spindle, table, orworkpiece, the display-directing point would be defined in a position onan endface or at center of gravity of the given item. But thedisplay-directing point is not limited to these locations, and may bedefined anywhere as long as it is an area that enables effective displayof the moving body—such as the external surface of the moving-bodyfeature where there is a risk of interference with the structuralelement, or a region in the interior of that feature.

As just described, the machine-tool controller involving the presentinvention has a configuration in which the screen display processorgenerates image data formed so that the display-directing point for themoving body coincides with the center of the onscreen display area ofthe image displaying means to allow the screen display means to displayit onscreen. This configuration enables displaying always on the centerof the display screen of the screen display means the part, on themoving body, having a probability of interfering with the structuralelement, even if a distance is put between the moving body and thestructural element, so that operators can view the display screen of thescreen display means to always grasp the positional relationship betweenthe moving body and the structural element, movement of the moving body,and the progress in machining the workpiece with the tool. Therefore,operators can always ascertain whether or not the moving body andstructural element will interfere with each other, to perform operationswith peace of mind.

It should be understood that the controller may be provided in a machinetool comprising a plurality of moving bodies. In such a controller, thescreen display processor is configured to, in generating the image dataso as to be onscreen, check if there is movement in the plurality ofmoving bodies, based on the generated modeling data, and whendetermining that several of the moving bodies are traveling, split theonscreen display area of the screen display means into a plurality ofdisplay zones so that the determined several moving bodies are displayedrespectively on the split display zones, and generate the image data todisplay it onscreen so that the centers of the split display zonescoincide respectively with display-directing points that are points asthe basis for displaying the moving bodies onscreen and are predefinedin parts, on the determined several moving bodies, having a probabilityof interfering with the structural elements, and on the other hand, whendetermining that one of the moving bodies is traveling, generate theimage data to display it onscreen so that the center of the onscreendisplay area coincides with a display-directing point that is a point asthe basis for displaying the determined moving body onscreen and ispredefined in a part, on the determined moving body, having aprobability of interfering with the structural elements.

In such a configuration, when movement of several of the moving bodiesis determined, the onscreen display area of the screen display means issplit into a plurality of display zones so that the determined severalmoving bodies are displayed respectively in the split display zones, andthe image data is generated and displayed so that the centers of thesplit display zones coincide with the display-directing points for thedetermined several moving bodies, and when movement of one of the movingbodies is determined, the image data is generated and displayed so thatthe center of the onscreen display area of the screen display meanscoincides with the display-directing point for the determined one movingbody. Therefore, likewise as described above, operators can alwaysascertain whether or not the moving bodies and structural elements willinterfere with each other, to perform operations with peace of mind.

Moreover, the screen display processor is configured to externallyreceive two signals: a display-format identifying signal relating to inwhich display formats the display screen is displayed on the screendisplay means of a first display format in which several of the movingbodies are displayed on the screen display means and a second displayformat in which one of the moving bodies is displayed on the imagedisplaying means, and a moving body-identifying signal relating to whichof the moving bodies is displayed when displayed in the second displayformat. Furthermore, the screen display processor may be configured to,in generating the image data so as to be onscreen, recognize in which ofthe display formats the image data is to be displayed, based on thedisplay-format identifying signal, and when the recognized displayformat is the first one, split the onscreen display area of the screendisplay means into a plurality of display zones so that the severalmoving bodies are displayed respectively on the split display zones, andthen generate the image data to display it onscreen so that the centersof the split display zones coincides with the display-directing pointsthat are points as the basis for displaying the several moving bodiesonscreen and is predefined in parts, on the several moving bodies,having a probability of interfering with the structural elements, and onthe other hand, when the recognized display format is the second one,further recognize which of the moving bodies is to be displayed, basedon the moving body-identifying signal, and then generate the image datato display it onscreen so that the center of the onscreen display areaof the image displaying means coincides with the display-directing pointthat is a point for displaying onscreen the recognized moving body andis predefined in a part, on the recognized moving body, having aprobability of interfering with the structural elements.

In such a configuration, in the first display format, the onscreendisplay area of the image displaying means is split into a plurality ofdisplay zones so that the several moving bodies are displayedrespectively in the display zones, and the image data is generated to beonscreen so that the centers of the split display zones coincide withthe display-directing points for the several moving bodies, and in thesecond display format, the image data is generated to be onscreen sothat the center of the onscreen display area of the screen display meanscoincides with the display-directing point for one of the moving bodies,selected for display. This configuration also, in the same way asdescribed earlier, enables operators to continually grasp where themoving bodies are present, and to perform operations with peace of mind.

Also feasible is a configuration in which the controller furthercomprises a display-directing-point setting processor that defines thedisplay-directing points for the moving bodies, and the screendisplaying processing unit is configured to, in generating the imagedata so as to be onscreen, generate the image data to display itonscreen, based on the display-directing pointes defined by thedisplay-directing-point setting processor. Such a configuration enablesthe operators to define the display-directing points at anywhere theylike and to change them as appropriate, improving usability—for example,the display-directing points can be defined based on a signal theoperators enter externally to the display-directing-point settingprocessor.

Additionally, acceptable is a configuration in which the controllerfurther comprises an interference lookout processor that receives fromthe control execution processing unit the move-to points of the movingbodies, and, based on the received move-to points, and on the modelingdata stored in the modeling data storage, generates the modeling datadescribing the situation in which the moving bodies have been moved intothe move-to points to check whether or not the moving bodies andstructural elements will mutually interfere, and if determining thatthey will interfere, recognizes interference points, on the movingbodies, having a probability of interfering with the structuralelements, based on the generated modeling data, to send to thedisplay-directing-point setting processor the recognized interferencepoints, as well as send to the control execution processing unit analarm signal; the display-directing-point setting processor isconfigured to, when receiving the interference points, define thedisplay-directing points at the interference points, based on thereceived interference points, and the control execution processing unitis configured to, when receiving the alarm signal from the interferencelookout processor, stop the movement of the moving bodies.

In such a configuration, when the moving bodies are moved, as a resultof the feed mechanism actuation under the control of the controlexecution processing unit, the interference lookout processor executes aprocess of generating modeling data describing the situation in whichthe moving bodies have been moved into the move-to points, based on themove-to points received from the control execution processing unit andthe modeling data stored in the modeling data storage, to check whetheror not the moving bodies and structural elements will mutuallyinterfere.

Whether or not the moving bodies and structural elements will mutuallyinterfere is determined based on, for example, whether or not there areportions where the modeling data for the moving bodies contacts oroverlaps with the modeling data for the structural elements. If such anoverlapping or contacting portion is created between the moving bodies'modeling data and the structural elements' modeling data, it isdetermined that the moving bodies and structural elements willinterfere. Additionally, in a situation in which the moving bodies andstructural elements are tools and workpieces respectively, and themodeling data of the tools and that of the workpieces overlap with eachother, it is determined that the tools and workpieces will mutuallyinterfere, except when the overlapping portion is created between theblades of the tools and workpieces.

When it is determined from the results of the interference lookout thatthe moving bodies and structural elements will interfere, theinterference points, on the moving bodies, having a probability ofinterfering with the structural elements, is recognized based on thegenerated modeling data, and then the recognized interference points aresent to the display-directing-point setting processor, as well as thealarm signal is sent to the control execution processing unit. Receivingthe interference points, the display-directing-point setting processordefines, based on the received interference points, thedisplay-directing points at the interference points, on the movingbodies, having a probability of interfering with the structuralelements. Receiving the alarm signal, the control execution processingunit stops the feed mechanism actuation to halt the movement of themoving bodies.

As just described, receiving the interference points, thedisplay-directing-point setting processor defines the display-directingpoints at the interference points, on the moving bodies, having aprobability of interfering with the structural elements, to display onthe center of the display screen of the screen display means theinterference points on the moving bodies, so that the interferencepoints are more quickly identified, and the efficiency of the operators'work is improved.

Also feasible is a configuration in which the controller is furthercomprises a move-to point predicting unit that receives from the controlexecution processing unit at least current points of the moving bodiesto predict from the received current points the move-to points intowhich the moving bodies will be moved after a predetermined period oftime passes, and the screen display processor and interference lookoutprocessor are configured to, in generating modeling data describing thesituation in which the moving bodies have been moved, receive from themove-to point predicting unit the predicted move-to points for themoving bodies to generate, based on the received predicted move-topoints, and on the modeling data stored in the modeling data storage,the modeling data describing the situation in which the moving bodieshave been moved into the predicted move-to points.

In such a configuration, based on the move-to points, predicted by themove-to point predicting unit, and into which the moving bodies will bemoved after the predetermined period of time passes, the image data isgenerated to be onscreen, and whether or not the moving bodies andstructural elements will mutually interfere is checked, so that beforethe moving bodies are actually moved by the feed mechanism drive underthe control of the control execution processing unit, the positionalrelationship between the moving bodies and the structural elements, themovement of the moving bodies, and a probability of interferenceoccurrences can be previously checked. Therefore, this configuration isadvantageous in performing various operations—for example, interferenceis reliably prevented from occurring.

Herein, the move-to points can be predicted, for example, from thecurrent points and speeds of the moving bodies, and from current pointsof the moving bodies, the operational commands, for the moving bodies,obtained by analyzing the machining program, and the operationalcommands, for the moving bodies, involving the manual operation.

As described above, configured to generate moving body-based image dataso as to be onscreen, not conventional workpiece (structuralelement)-based image data, the machine-tool controller involving thepresent invention enables displaying always onscreen the interferencepoints, on the moving bodies, having a probability of interfering withthe structural elements, regardless of the distance between the movingbodies and the structural elements, so that the operators can graspcontinually the positional relationship between the moving bodies andstructural elements, the movement of the moving bodies, and progress inmachining the workpieces, to work always with peace of mind.

Furthermore, providing the display-directing-point setting processor toenable operators to define the display-directing points in locations ofchoice, or to make it so that when interference points have beenreceived from the interference lookout processor the display-directingpoints are defined in locations where there is interference with thestructural elements, makes it possible to improve operability. Inaddition, a configuration in which the moving bodies are displayedonscreen, and the interference lookout is carried out, based on themoving bodies' move-to points predicted by the move-to point predictingunit is advantageous in performing various operations, because prior tothe actual movement of the moving bodies, the moving bodies is displayedonscreen, and the interference lookout is carried out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the constitution of themachine-tool controller in accordance with a first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view illustrating the constitution of anumerically-controlled (NC) lathe provided with the machine-toolcontroller in accordance with this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the data structuralelements of the interference data stored in the interference datastorage in accordance with this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a series of processes performed by theinterference lookout processor in accordance with this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a series of processes performed by theinterference lookout processor in accordance with this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a series of processes performed by thescreen displaying processor in accordance with this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a displayscreen generated by the screen displaying processor in accordance withthis embodiment and displayed on the image display device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a displayscreen generated by the screen displaying processor in accordance withthis embodiment and displayed on the image display device.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a displayscreen generated by the screen displaying processor in accordance withthis embodiment and displayed on the image display device.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the displayscreen generated by the screen displaying processor in accordance withthis embodiment and displayed on the image display device.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the displayscreen generated by the screen displaying processor in accordance withthis embodiment and displayed on the image display device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A specific embodiment of the present invention is explained hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagramrepresenting a outlined configuration of a machine tool controllerinvolving a first embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a machine tool controller 1 (hereinafter,refer to as controller) of this embodiment is configured with a programstorage 11, a program analyzing unit 12, a drive control unit 13, amove-to point predicting unit 14, a modeling data storage 15, aninterference data storage 16, an interference lookout processor 17, adisplay-directing-point setting processor 18, a display-directing pointdata storage 19 and a screen display processor 20, and is provided in aNC lathe 30 illustrated in FIG. 2.

First, the NC lathe 30 will be explained hereinafter. As illustrated inFIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the NC lathe 30 is provided with a bed 31, a(not-illustrated) headstock disposed on the bed 31, a main spindle 32supported by the (not illustrated) headstock rotatably on the horizontalaxis (on Z-axis), a chuck 33 mounted to the main spindle 32, a firstsaddle 34 disposed on the bed 31 movably along Z-axis, a second saddle35 disposed on the first saddle 34 movably along the Y-axisperpendicular to Z-axis in a horizontal plane, a upper tool rest 36disposed on the second saddle 35 movable along the X-axis orthogonal toboth Y-axis and Z-axis, a third saddle 37 disposed on the bed 31 movablyalong the Z-axis, a lower tool rest 38 disposed on the third saddle 37movably along the X-axis, a first feed mechanism 39 for moving the firstsaddle 34 along the Z-axis, a second feed mechanism 40 for moving thesecond saddle 35 along the Y-axis, a third feed mechanism 41 for movingthe upper tool rest 36 along the X-axis, a fourth feed mechanism 42 formoving the third saddle 37 along the Z-axis, a fifth feed mechanism 43for moving the lower tool rest 38 along the X-axis, a spindle motor 44for rotating the main spindle 32 axially, a control panel 45 connectedto the controller 1, and the controller 1 for controlling the actuationof the feed mechanisms 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and spindle motor 44.

The chuck 33 comprises a chuck body 33 a and a plurality of graspingclaws 33 b that grasp a workpiece W. The upper tool rest 36 is providedwith a tool rest body 36 a and a tool spindle 36 b that holds a tool T1,and the lower tool rest 38 is provided with a tool rest body 38 a and aturret 38 b that holds a tool T2. Furthermore, the tool T1 is cuttingtools and other turning tools, and is configured with a tool body Ta anda tip (blade) Tb for machining the workpiece W. The tool T2 set up inthe lower tool rest 38 is drills, end mills and other rotating tools,and is configured with the tool body Ta and a blade Tb for machining theworkpiece W.

The control panel 45 comprises an input device 46, such as an operationkeys for inputting various signals to the controller 1 and a manualpulse generator for inputting a pulse signal to the controller 1, and ascreen display device 47 for displaying onscreen a state of control bythe controller 1.

The operation keys include an operation mode selecting switch forswitching operation modes between automatic and manual operations, afeed axis selector switch for selecting feed axes (X-axis, Y-axis andZ-axis), movement buttons for moving along a feed axis selected by thefeed axis selector switch the first saddle 34, second saddle 35, uppertool rest 36, third saddle 37 and lower tool rest 38, a control knob forcontrolling feedrate override, a display format selecting button forswitching display formats for displaying a screen image on the screendisplay device 47 among full-screen display, spilt-screen display andselected image display, and setting buttons for defining adisplay-directing point that will be described hereinafter. The signalsfrom the operation mode selecting switch, feed axis selector switch,movement buttons, control knob, display format selecting button andsetting buttons are sent to the controller 1.

“Full-screen display” means that an image in its entirety, including,for example, the chuck 33, workpiece W, tools T1, T2, a part of the toolspindle 36 b, and a part of the turret 38 b, is displayed in oneonscreen display area H (refer to FIG. 7). “Split-screen display” meansthat the onscreen display area is divided into, for example, two displayzones H1, H2, and images of the tools T1, T2 are displayed respectivelyin the display zones (refer to FIG. 8 and FIG. 11A). “Selected imagedisplay” means that an image of whichever is selected from the tools T1,T2 is displayed in one onscreen display area H (refer to FIG. 9, FIG.10, FIG. 11B and FIG. 11C).

The manual pulse generator is provided with the feed axis selectorswitch for selecting the feed axes (X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis), a powerselector switch for changing travel distance per one pulse, and a pulsehandle that is rotated axially to generate pulse signals correspondingto the amount of the rotation. The operating signals from the feed axisselector switch, power selector switch, and pulse handle are sent to thecontroller 1.

Next, the controller 1 will be explained. As described above, thecontroller 1 is provided with the program storage 11, program analyzingunit 12, drive control unit 13, move-to point predicting unit 14,modeling data storage 15, interference data storage 16, interferencelookout processor 17, display-directing-point setting processor 18,display-directing point data storage 19, and screen display processor20. It should be understood that the program storage 11, programanalyzing unit 12 and drive control unit 13 function as a controlexecution processing unit recited in the claims.

In the program storage 11, a previously created NC program is stored.The program analyzing unit 12 analyzes the NC programs stored in theprogram storage 11 successively for each block to extract operationalcommands relating to the move-to point and feed rate of the upper toolrest 36 (the first saddle 34 and second saddle 35), to the move-to pointand feed rate of the lower tool rest 38 (the third saddle 37), and tothe rotational speed of the spindle motor 44 to send the extractedoperational commands to the drive control unit 13 and move-to pointpredicting unit 14.

When the operation mode selecting switch is in automatic operationposition, the drive control unit 13 controls, based on the operationalcommands received from the program analyzing unit 12, rotation of themain spindle 32 and movement of the tool rests 36, 38. Specifically, therotation of the main spindle 32 is controlled by generating a controlsignal, based on feedback data on current rotational speed from thespindle motor 44, and on the operational commands, to send the generatedcontrol signal to the spindle motor 44. Additionally, the movement ofthe upper tool rest 36 is controlled by generating a control signal,based on feedback data on a current point of the upper tool rest 36 fromthe feed mechanism 39, 40, 41, and on the operational commands, to sendthe generated control signal to the feed mechanisms 39, 40, 41. And themovement of the lower tool rest 38 is controlled by generating a controlsignal, based on feedback data on a current point of the lower tool rest38 from the feed mechanisms 42, 43, and on the operational commands, tosend the generated control signal to the feed mechanisms 42, 43.

Furthermore, when the operation mode selecting switch is in the manualoperation position, the drive control unit 13 generates, based on theoperating signal received from the input device 46, operational signalsfor the feed mechanisms 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 to control their actuation.For example, when the movement button is pushed, the drive control unit13 recognizes, from a selection made from feed axes by means of the feedaxis selector switch, which of the feed mechanisms 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 isto be activated, and recognizes from the control exerted by means of thecontrol knob the adjusted value of the feedrate override, to generate anoperational signal including data on the recognized feed mechanisms 39,40, 41, 42, 43, and on the movement speed in accordance with therecognized adjusted value to control the actuation of the feedmechanisms 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, based on the generated operationalsignals. In addition, when the pulse handle of the manual pulsegenerator is operated, the drive control unit 13 recognizes, from aselection made from feed axes by means of the feed axis selector switch,which of the feed mechanisms 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 is to be activated, andrecognizes, from a selection made from the power by means of the powerselector switch, which of the amount of travel per 1 pulse, to generatean operational signal including data on the recognized feed mechanisms39, 40, 41, 42, 43, and on the recognized amount of travel per 1 pulse,and on the pulse signal generated by means of the pulse handle tocontrol the actuation of the feed mechanisms 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, basedon the generated operational signals.

The drive control unit 13 stops the actuation of the feed mechanisms 39,40, 41, 42, 43 and spindle motor 44 when receiving an alarm signal sentfrom the interference lookout unit 17. In addition, the drive controlunit 13 sends data involving the tools T1, T2 to the interferencelookout processor 17 and screen display processor 20 when the tool T1set up in the upper tool rest 36 is changed to another one, and the toolT2 indexed to the machining position for the lower tool rest 38 ischanged. Also the drive control unit 13 sends to the move-to pointpredicting unit 14 the current points and speeds of the first saddle 34,second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle 37 and lower toolrest 38 received the feed mechanisms 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, and thegenerated operational signals.

The move-to point predicting unit 14 receives from the program analyzingunit 12 the operational commands relating to the move-to points and feedrates of the tool rests 36, 38, and receives from the drive control unit13 the current points, the current speeds, and the operational signalsof the first saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36, thirdsaddle 37 and lower tool rest 38, to predict, based on the receivedoperational commands or operational signals and current points, andreceived current points and speeds, the move-to points into which thefirst saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle 37,and lower tool rest 38 are moved after a predetermined period of timepasses, and then the move-to point predicting unit 14 sends to theinterference lookout processor 17 and screen displaying processing unit20 the predicted move-to points, and received operational commands andoperational signals. In the move-to point predicting unit 14, blockoperational commands leading those that will be analyzed by the programanalyzing unit 12 and is processed by the drive control unit 13 aresuccessively processed.

In the modeling data storage 15, for example, three-dimensional modelingdata, previously generated as appropriate, involving at least the toolsT1, T2, workpiece W, main spindle 32, chuck 33, first saddle 34, secondsaddle 35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle 37 and lower tool rest 38 isstored. Such three dimensional modeling data is formed, with at leastgeometry data defining three-dimensional shapes of the tools T1, T2,workpiece W, main spindle 32, chuck 33, first saddle 34, second saddle35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle 37 and lower tool rest 38 beingincluded.

The three-dimensional modeling data, which is employed as interferenceregion when interference lookout, may be generated as large as, or so asto be slightly larger than, the actual size.

In the interference data storage 16, interference data defininginterference relationships, previously determined, among the tools T1,T2, workpiece W, main spindle 32, chuck 33, first saddle 34, secondsaddle 35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle 37, and lower tool rest 38is stored.

In the NC lathe 30, the main spindle 32 is held in a (not-illustrated)headstock, with the main spindle 32, chuck 33 and workpiece W beingintegrated, the first saddle 34 is disposed on the bed 31, with thefirst saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36 and tool T1 beingintegrated, and the third saddle 37 is disposed on the bed 31, with thethird saddle 37, lower tool rest 38 and tool T2 being integrated.Therefore, interference relationships are not established among the mainspindle 32, chuck 33 and workpiece W, among the first saddle 34, secondsaddle 35, upper tool rest 36 and tool T1, and among the third saddle37, lower tool rest 38 and tool T2. The interference relationships,however, are established only among the main spindle 32, chuck 33 andworkpiece W, and the first saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest36 and tool T1, and the third saddle 37, lower tool rest 38 and tool T2.

Moreover, although the interference among the tools T1, T2, andworkpiece W is regarded as machining of the workpiece W with the toolsT1, T2 (that is, not regarded as interference), it is regarded asinterference, not as machining, except when the interference occursbetween the tip Tb of the tool T1 or between the blade Tb of the tool T2and the workpiece W.

Therefore, specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the interference datais defined as data representing which of the interference relationshipand cutting relationship is established among some groups to which thetools T1, T2, workpiece W, main spindle 32, chuck 33, first saddle 34,second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle 37 and lower toolrest 38 are classified according to what are integrated.

And, according to this interference data, the main spindle 32, chuck 33and workpiece W are classified to a first group, the first saddle 34,second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36 and tool T1 are classified to asecond group, and the third saddle 37, lower tool rest 38 and tool T2are classified to a third group. Furthermore, no interference occursamong items in the same group, but it occurs among items belonging todifferent groups. Moreover, even if the interference occurs between theitems belonging to the different groups, it is not regarded asinterference when these items establish cutting relationship and belongto the first group 1 and the second group 2 or third group 3—that is,the items establishing the interference relationship are tip Tb of thetool T1 or blade Tb of the tool T2, and workpiece W.

The interference lookout processor 17 successively receives from themove-to point predicting unit 14 the move-to points of the first saddle34, second saddle 35 and upper tool rest 36, the third saddle 37 andlower tool rest 38 to check, based on the received predicted move-topoints, and on data stored in the modeling data storage 15 andinterference data storage 16, whether or not interference occurs amongthe tools T1, T2, workpiece W, main spindle 32, chuck 33, first saddle34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle 37 and lower toolrest 38.

Specifically, the interference lookout processor 17 is configured tosuccessively execute a series of processes as represented in FIG. 4 andFIG. 5. First, the interference lookout processor 17 recognizes toolsT1, T2 held in the tool rests 36, 38, based on the data, received fromthe drive control unit 13, on the tools T1, T2 held in the tool rests36, 38, and reads the three-dimensional modeling data, stored in themodeling data storage 15, for the tool T1, T2, workpiece W, main spindle32, chuck 33, first saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36,third saddle 37, and lower tool rest 38, and the interference datastored in the interference data storage 16 (Step S1). Furthermore, inorder to read the three-dimensional data for the tools T1, T2, theinterference lookout processor 17 reads the three-dimensional modelingdata for the recognized tools T1, T2.

Next, referring to the interference data having been read, theinterference lookout processor 17 recognizes to which groups the toolsT1, T2, workpiece W, main spindle 32, chuck 33, first saddle 34, secondsaddle 35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle 37 and lower tool rest 38belong, as well as recognize the tools T1, T2, workpiece W, main spindle32, chuck 33, first saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36,third saddle 37 and lower tool rest 38 establish which of the cuttingrelationship and interference relationship (Step S2).

Subsequently, the interference lookout processor 17 receives from themove-to point predicting unit 14 the predicted move-to points of thetool rests 36, 38, and the operational commands and signals (a speedcommand signal) involving the moving speed (step S3), and generates,based on the read three-dimensional data and received predicted move-topoints, three-dimensional modeling data describing the situation inwhich the first saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36 and toolT1, and the third saddle 37, lower tool rest 38 and tool T2 have beenmoved into the predicted move-to points (Step S4).

After that, the interference lookout processor 17 checks, based on theread interference data, and on the generated three-dimensional modelingdata, whether or not the movements of the first saddle 34, second saddle35, upper tool rest 36 and tool T1, and of the third saddle 37, lowertool rest 38 and tool T2 cause interference among the tools T1, T2,workpiece W, main spindle 32, chuck 33, first saddle 34, second saddle35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle 37 and lower tool rest 38—that is,whether or not there is a contacting or overlapping portion in thethree-dimensional modeling data for the items belonging to the differentgroups (among the three-dimensional modeling data for the main spindle32, chuck 33 and workpiece W belonging to the first group, that of thefirst saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36 and tool T1belonging to the second group, and that of the third saddle 37, lowertool rest 38 and tool T2 belonging to the third group) (Step S5).

When determining in Step S5 that there is contacting or overlappingportion, the interference lookout processor 17 checks whether or not thecontacting or overlapping occurs between items establishing a cuttingrelationship, and whether or not the contacting or overlapping belongsto the first group and the second group or third group, namely whetheror not it occurs between the tip Tb of the tool T1 or the blade Tb ofthe tool T2 and the workpiece W (Step S6). The interference lookoutsection 17 checks whether or not the received command speed is withinthe maximum cutting feed rate (Step S7).

When determining that the command speed is within the maximum cuttingfeed rate, the interference lookout processor 17 defines that machiningthe workpiece W with the tools T1, T2 causes the contacting oroverlapping in the three-dimensional modeling data, and calculates theoverlapping portion (interference (cutting) area) (Step S8).

On the other hand, when determining in Step S6 that the contacting oroverlapping does not occur between items establishing cuttingrelationship (it does not occur between the tip Tb of the tool T1 or theblade Tb of the tool T2 and the workpiece W), the interference lookoutprocessor 17 defines that interference occurs among the main spindle 34,chuck 33 and workpiece W, and the first saddle 34, second saddle 35,upper tool rest 36 and tool T1, and the third saddle 37, tower tool rest38 and tool T2. Additionally, when determining in Step S7 that thecommand speed exceeds the maximum cutting feed rate, the interferencelookout processor 17 does not regard the contacting or overlapping asmachining of the workpiece W with the tools T1, T2, but define thatinterference occurs, and sends the alarm signal to the drive controlunit 13 and screen display processor 20 (Step S9) to end the series ofthe processes.

Moreover, in Step S9, when the tools T1, T2 interfere with the workpieceW, chuck 33, tool spindle 36 b and turret 38 b, the interference lookoutprocessor 17 recognizes an interference point at where the tool T1interferes with the workpiece W, chuck 33, tool T2 and turret 38 b, andan interference point at where the tool T2 interferes with the workpieceW, chuck 33, tool T1 and tool spindle 36 b, and sends the recognizedinterference points to the display-directing-point setting processor 18.It is because only the chuck 33, workpiece W, tools T1, T2, part of thetool spindle 36 b, and part of the turret 38 b are displayed on thescreen display device 47 that the transmission of the interferencepoints limited to when the tools T1, T2 interfere with the workpiece W,chuck 33, tool spindle 36 b, and turret 38 b.

When determining in Step S5 that there is no contacting or overlapping(no interference occurs), the interference lookout processor 17 proceedsto Step S10 after finishing the process in Step S8, and updates thethree-dimensional modeling data read in Step S1 by the three-dimensionalmodeling data generated in Step S4. And if there is a cutting portionbetween the tools T1, T2 and the workpiece W, the interference lookoutprocessor 17 updates the three-dimensional modeling data for theworkpiece W to delete the cutting portion calculated in Step S8.

Subsequently, in Step S11, the interference lookout processor 17 checkswhether or not the processes are finished, and if they are not finished,repeats step S3 or later steps. If the processes are finished, aboveseries of processes end.

The display-directing-point setting processor 18 defines, based on aninput signal from the setting buttons on the input device 46, a point(display-directing point) as the basis for displaying the tools T1, T2onscreen in a part, on the tool T1, having a probability of interferingwith the workpiece W, main spindle 32, chuck 33, third saddle 37, lowertool rest 38 and tool T2, and in a part, on the tool T2, having aprobability of interfering with the workpiece W, main spindle 32, chuck33, first saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36 and tool T1,and stores in the display-directing point data storage 19 data ondefined display-directing points for the tools T1, T2. It should beunderstood that the display-directing points are defined at the tips ofthe tools T1, T2 in this embodiment.

When receiving the interference points from the interference lookoutprocessor 17, the display-directing-point setting processor 18 defines,based on the received interference points, the display-directing pointsat the interference point, on the tool T1, having a probability ofinterfering with the workpiece W, chuck 33, tool T2, turret 38 b, and ata point, on the tool T2, having a probability of interfering with theworkpiece W, chuck 33, tool T1, and tool spindle 36 b, and stores in thedisplay-directing point data storage 19 data on the defineddisplay-directing points for the tools T1, T2 to update thedisplay-directing points defined based on the input signals through theinput device 46.

The screen display processor 20 successively receives from the move-topoint predicting unit 14 the predicted move-to points for the firstsaddle 34, second saddle 35 and upper tool rest 36, and the third saddle37 and lower tool rest 38, and generates three-dimensional image data,based on the received predicted move-to points and data stored in themodeling data storage 15 and display-directing point data storage 19 todisplay the generated three-dimensional image data on the screen displaydevice 47.

Specifically, the screen display processor 20 successively executes aseries of processes as represented in FIG. 6. In the full-screendisplay, the screen displaying processing unit 20 generates image datainvolving an entire image of the chuck 33, workpiece W, tools T1, T2,part of the tool spindle 36 b, and part of the turret 38 b, asillustrated in FIG. 7, to display the image data on one onscreen displayarea H of the screen display device 47. In the split-screen display (thefirst display format), for example, as illustrated in FIG. 8 and FIG.11A, the screen displaying processing unit 20 splits the onscreendisplay area of the screen display device 47 into two display zones H1,H2, and generates image data to display it in the display zones H1, H2so that the display-directing points P coincide respectively with thecenters of the display zones H1, H2. In the selected image display (thesecond display format), for example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, FIG. 10,FIG. 11B and FIG. 11C, the screen displaying processing unit 20generates image data to display it on the screen display device 47 sothat the display-directing point P of whichever is selected from thetools T1, T2 coincides with the center of the onscreen display area H ofthe screen display device 47. It should be understood that the FIG. 9and FIG. 11B illustrate the tool T1 displayed in the selected imagedisplay, and FIG. 10 and FIG. 11C illustrate the tool T2 displayed inselected image display.

Furthermore, the screen display processor 20 accepts the display-formatidentifying signal and moving body-identifying signal input through thedisplay format selecting button on the input device 46 to recognize,based on the accepted display-format identifying signal, in which offormats screen is displayed, of the full-screen display, split-screendisplay, and selected image display, and when screen is displayed inselected image display, recognizes based on the accepted movingbody-identifying signal which of the tools T1, T2 is displayed.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the screen display processor 20 firstrecognizes from the display-format identifying signal and movingbody-identifying signal input through the display format selectingbutton in which of display formats screen is displayed (andadditionally, which of the tools T1, T2 is to be displayed if selectedimage display is selected) (Step S21), and then recognizes the tools T1,T2 held in the tool rest 36, 38, based on data, received from the drivecontrol unit 13, on the tools T1, T2 held in the tool rests 36, 38, andreads the tree-dimensional modeling data, stored in the modeling datastorage 15, for the tools T1, T2, workpiece W, main spindle 32, chuck33, first saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle37 and lower tool rest 38 (Step S22). It should be understood that inreading modeling data for the tools T1, T2, the screen display processor20 reads the three-dimensional modeling data for the recognized toolsT1, T2.

Subsequently, the screen display processor 20 receives from the move-topoint predicting unit 14 the predicted move-to points for the tool rests36, 38 (Step S23), and generates, based on the read three dimensionalmodeling data and the received predicted move-to points,three-dimensional modeling data describing the situation in which thefirst saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36, and tool T1, andthe third saddle 37, lower tool rest 38 and tool T2 have been moved intothe predicted move-to points (step S24). It should be understood thatwhen the tools T1, T2 and the workpiece W overlap to cerate a cuttingportion, the screen display processor 20 calculates the cutting portionto generate the three-dimensional modeling data for the workpiece W sothat the cutting portion is edited out of the workpiece W.

After that, for example, comparing the generated three-dimensionalmodeling data with the three-dimensional modeling data read in Step S22or the three-dimensional modeling data that will be updated in Step S27described hereinafter, the screen display processor 20 checks whether ornot the tool rests 36, 38 are moving (Step S25). Moreover, when therecognized display format is full-screen display and split-screendisplay, the screen display processor 20 checks whether or not at leastone of the tool rests 36, 38 is moving, and when the recognized displayformat is the selected image display, the screen display processor 20checks whether or not that of the tool rests 36, 38 holding either ofthe tool T1 or T2 to be displayed onscreen.

And, when determining in step S25 that tool rests 36, 38 are not moving,the screen display processor 20 proceeds to Step S28, and whendetermining in step S25 that the tool rests 36, 38 are moving, thescreen display processor 20 generates image data corresponding to therecognized display format to display the image data on the screendisplay device 47 (refer to FIG. 7 through FIG. 11). Furthermore, ingenerating image data to be displayed in split-screen display orselected image display, the screen display processor 20 recognizes fromthe data stored in the display-directing point data storage 19 thedisplay-directing points to generate, based on the recognizeddisplay-directing points, the image data. Moreover, although thedisplay-directing points are initially defined at the tips of the toolsT1, T2 (refer to FIG. 8 through FIG. 10), the display-directing pointsare placed, when interference is determined by the interference lookoutprocessor 17, at the points that are defined by thedisplay-directing-point setting processor 18, based on the interferencepoints received from the interference lookout processor 17 (refer toFIG. 11). In addition, FIG. 7 through FIG. 10 illustrate how the toolrests 36, 38 (tools T1, T2) move toward the main spindle 32 (workpieceW).

After that, based on the generated three-dimensional modeling data, thescreen display processor 20 updates the three-dimensional modeling data(step S27), and then checks in step S28 whether or not the processes arefinished. It they are not finished, the screen display processor 20repeats the processes in step S23 of later, and when determining thatthe processes are over, ends the series of the processes.

Furthermore, when receiving the alarm signal from the interferencelookout processor 17, the screen display processor 20, for example,blinks the displayed image as an alarm display.

According to the controller 1 configured as above, of this embodiment,the three-dimensional modeling data involving at least the tools T1, T2,workpiece W, main spindle 32, chuck 33, first saddle 34, second saddle35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle 37 and lower tool rest 38 is storedpreviously in the modeling data storage 15, and interference datadefining interference relationships among the tools T1, T2, workpiece W,main spindle 32, chuck 33, first saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper toolrest 36, third saddle 37 and lower tool rest 38 is stored previously inthe interference data storage 16.

Moreover, data on the display-directing points for the tools T1, T2 isstored by the display-directing-point setting processor 18 into thedisplay-directing point data storage 19, based on the input signalthrough the input device 46.

The feed mechanisms 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 are controlled by the drivecontrol unit 13, based on the operational commands issued by means ofthe NC program and the manual operation, and as a result, the movementof the tool rests 36, 38 is controlled. At this time, the move-to pointsfor the first saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36, thirdsaddle 37 and lower tool rest 38 are predicted by the move-to pointpredicting unit 14, and then whether or not interference occurs amongthe tools T1, T2, workpiece W, main spindle 32, chuck 33, first saddle34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle 37 and lower toolrest 38 is checked by the interference lookout processor 17, based onthe predicted move-to points, on the command speed, and on the datastored in the modeling data storage 15 and interference data storage 16,and meanwhile the image data corresponding to a display format selectedas appropriate is generated by the screen display processor 20, based onthe predicted move-to points and on the data stored in the modeling datastorage 15 and in the display-directing point data storage 19, anddisplayed on the screen of the screen display device 47.

In displaying the image data, with the full-screen display beingselected from the display formats, image data involving an entire imageincluding the chuck 33, workpiece W, tools T1, T2, part of the toolspindle 36 b, and part of the turret 38 b is generated and displayed(refer to FIG. 7), and with the split-screen display being selected fromthe display formats, the image data is generated to be onscreen so thatthe tips P of the tools T1, T2 coincide with the centers of the splitdisplay zones H1, H2 (refer to FIG. 8), and with the selected imagedisplay being selected form the display formats, the image data isgenerated to be onscreen so that a tip P of whichever is chosen from thetools T1, T2 coincides with the center of the onscreen display area H.

When it is determined in the interference lookout that interference willoccur, an alarm signal is sent to the drive control unit 13 and thescreen display processor 20, and the feed mechanisms 39, 40, 41, 42, 43are stopped by the drive control unit 13, and then an alarm image isgenerated by the screen display processor 20, and displayed on thescreen of the screen display device 47.

Furthermore, an interference point, on the tool T1, having a probabilityof interfering with the workpiece W, chuck 33, tool T2, and turret 38 b,and an interference point, on the tool T2, having a probability ofinterfering with the workpiece W, chuck 33, tool T1, and tool spindle 36b, are recognized, and the recognized interference points are sent tothe display-directing-point setting processor 18. The display-directingpoints are defined, based on the recognized interference points, at theinterference points on the tools T1, T2, and are stored (updated) in thedisplay-directing point data storage 19, by the display-directing-pointsetting processor 18. Therefore, image data is generated and displayedon the screen display device 47 so that the interference points Pcoincide with the centers of the onscreen display area H and displayzones H1, H2 (refer to FIG. 11). It should be understood that FIG. 11Aillustrates that the tool T1 interferes with the workpiece W.

As just described, the controller 1 of this embodiment has aconfiguration in which the screen display processor 20 generates imagedata of a form designed so that the tips (display-directing points) P ofthe tools T1, T2 coincide with the center of the onscreen display area Hof, or with the centers of the split display zones H1, H2 of, the screendisplay device 47, and displays the image data on the screen of thescreen display device 47, so that even if a distance is put between thetools T1, T2 are the workpiece W, the tools T1, T2 are always displayedin the center of the display screen of the screen display device 47, andthus operators can always grasp positional relationship between thetools T1, T2 and the workpiece W, movements of the tools T1, T2, and theprogress in machining the workpiece W with the tools T1, T2. Therefore,in such a configuration, the operators can constantly ascertain whetheror not the tools T1, T2 and the workpiece W will mutually interfere, andcan perform operations with peace of mind.

Furthermore, operators can define the display-directing points for thetools T1, T2 by means of the setting buttons in the input device 46 atanywhere they like, so that usability is improved. In addition, thecontroller 1 is configured so that when receiving an interferencepoints, on the tool T1, having a probability of interfering with theworkpiece W, chuck 33, tool T2, and turret 38 b, and on the tool T2,having a probability of interfering with the workpiece W, chuck 33, toolT1 and tool spindle 36 b, being recognized and sent when theinterference lookout processor 17 determines that interference willoccur, the display-directing-point setting processor 18 defines based onthe received interference points the display-directing points at theinterference points on the tools T1, T2, so that the interference pointson the tools T1, T2 can be displayed on the center of the display screenof the screen display device 47, and thus the interference points can beidentified more quickly, and the efficiency of the operator's work canbe improved.

Moreover, the controller 1 is configured so that whether or notinterference will occur among the tools T1, T2, main spindle 32, chuck33, first saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle37 and lower tool rest 38 is checked, and image data is generated to beonscreen, based on the move-to points, predicted by the move-to pointpredicting unit 14, and into which the first saddle 34, second saddle35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle 37, and lower tool rest 38 aremoved after a predetermined period of time. In such a configuration,before the first saddle 34, second saddle 35, upper tool rest 36, thirdsaddle 37 and lower tool rest 38 are actually moved, as a result ofdriving of the feed mechanisms 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 under the control ofthe drive control unit 13, a probability of interference occurrence canbe checked previously, and also positional relationship between thetools T1, T2 and the workpiece W, movements of the tools T1, T2 can bechecked. Therefore, in performing various operations, interferenceoccurrence is advantageously prevented.

The above is a description of one embodiment of the present invention,but the specific mode of implementation of the present invention is inno way limited thereto.

The embodiment above presented the NC lathe 30 as one example of themachine tool, but the controller I according to this embodiment can alsobe provided in a machining center or various other types of machinetools. For example, in a NC lathe from which the lower tool rest 38 isomitted, advantageously the screen display processor 20 may beconfigured to display in the onscreen display area of the screen displaydevice 47 the chuck 33, workpiece W, tool T1, part of the tool spindle36 b, without accepting through the input device 46 the display-formatidentifying signal and moving body-identifying signal, as when the toolT1 is selected in selected image display.

Moreover, the screen display processor 20 may be configured to executethe same process as in Step S25, without accepting through the inputdevice 46 the display-format identifying signal and movingbody-identifying signal. In such a configuration, the screen displayprocessor 20 checks whether or not both tool rests 36, 38 are moving,and when both are traveling, as in the split-screen display describedabove, splits the onscreen display area of the screen display device 47into two display zones H1, H2, and generates image data to display it inthe display zones H1, H2 of the screen display device 47 so that thedisplay-directing points P for the tools T1, T2 coincide respectivelywith the centers of the split display zones H1, H2, and when one of thetool rests 38, 38 is moving, as in the selected image display describedabove, generates image data to display it on the screen display device47 so that a display-directing point for the tool T1 or T2 held in thatof the tool rests 36, 38 being traveling coincides with the center ofthe onscreen display area H of the screen display device 47.

Additionally, the screen display processor 20 may be configured toexecute, in the split-screen display, the same process as in Step S25,even when accepting from the input device 46 the display-formatidentifying signal and moving body-identifying signal. In such aconfiguration, the screen display processor 20 checks whether or notboth tool rests 36, 38 are traveling, and when both are traveling,displays screen as described above, and when one of the tool rests 36,38 is traveling, generates image data to display it on the screendisplay device 47 so that the display a directing point P for the toolsT1 or T2 held in that of the tool rests 36, 38 being moving coincideswith the center of the onscreen display area H of the screen displaydevice 47.

Moreover, the three-dimensional modeling data stored in the modelingdata storage 15 may be generated by any means, but in order to performhigh-precision interference lookout and image data generation, it ispreferable to use data that is generated accurately rather than datathat is generated simply. And two-dimensional model, as an alternativeto the three-dimensional model, may be stored in the modeling datastorage 15.

In the example described above, the controller 1 is configured so thatthe interference lookout processor 17 and screen display processor 20employs the move-to points, predicted by the move-to point predictingunit 14, of the first saddle 34, second saddle 35 and the upper toolrest 36, third saddle 37 and lower tool rest 38, to generate thethree-dimensional modeling data describing the situation in which theyhave been moved, but there is no limitation on the configuration, so thecontroller 1 may be configured so that the move-to point predicting unit14 is omitted and the current points of the first saddle 34, secondsaddle 35, upper tool rest 36, third saddle 37 and lower tool rest 38are received from the drive control unit 13 to generate, based on thecurrent points, the three-dimensional modeling data describing thesituation in which they have been moved.

Additionally, in above example, as illustrated in FIG. 7 through FIG.11, the controller 1 is configured so that the chuck 33, workpiece W,tools T1, T2, part of the tool spindle 36, and part of the turret 38 aredisplayed onscreen, but this configuration is one example, display modeis not limited to it. For example, acceptable is a configuration inwhich the tool rests 36, 38 are entirely displayed, and the first saddle34, second saddle 35, third saddle 37, main spindle 32, and(not-illustrated) headstock are also displayed.

Furthermore, as illustrated in chain double-dashed line in thesplit-screen display illustrated in FIG. 8 and in selected image displayillustrated in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10, an image of the tool T2 may be addedto the image of the tool T1 and vice versa.

Moreover, in above example, the display-directing points are the tips ofthe tools T1, T2, but the display-directing points are not limited tothem. When the tool rest 36, 38, first saddle 34, second saddle 35, andthird saddle 37 are also displayed on the screen display device 47, thedisplay-directing points may be defined at, for example, their edge faceand their center of gravity, and at center of gravity in the structuralelement including the tool rests 36, 38 and tools T1, T2. Additionally,feasible is a configuration in which the display-directing-point settingprocessor 18 is automatically define the display-directing points,depending on the shapes of the tools T1, T2, tool rests 36, 38, firstsaddle 34, second saddle 35 and third saddle 37.

Only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the presentinvention. To those skilled in the art, however, it will be apparentfrom the foregoing disclosure that various changes and modifications canbe made herein without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptionof the embodiments according to the present invention is provided forillustration only, and not for limiting the invention as defined by theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A controller provided in a machine tool furnished with a singlemoving body, with a feed mechanism for driving the moving body to moveit, with at least one structural element arranged within the region inwhich the moving body can move, and with a screen display means fordisplaying image data, the machine-tool controller comprising: a controlexecution processing unit controlling, based on an operational commandfor the moving body, actuation of the feed mechanism to control at leasta move-to point for the moving body; a modeling data storage storingmodeling data relating to two-dimensional as well as three-dimensionalmodels of, and including at least geometry data defining shapes of, themoving body and structural element; a screen display processor receivingthe moving body move-to point from said control execution processingunit to generate, based on the received move-to point and on themodeling data stored in the modeling data storage, data modeling thesituation in which the moving body has been moved into the move-topoint, and for generating in accordance with the generated modelingdata, and having the screen display means display onscreen,two-dimensional or three-dimensional image data; adisplay-directing-point setting processor executing a process ofdefining a display-directing point being defined for the moving body andbeing a position serving as referent when the moving body is displayedonscreen; and a display-directing point data storage storing datarelating to the display-directing point defined by saiddisplay-directing-point selling processor; wherein in generating imagedata to be displayed onscreen, said screen display processor isconfigured to generate and onscreen-display the image data in such amanner that the display-directing point stored in said display-directingpoint data storage coincides with the central position of the onscreendisplay area of the screen display means, and an interference lookoutprocessor receiving from said control execution processing unit themove-to point for the moving body, for generating, based on the receivedmove-to point and on the modeling data stored in said modeling datastorage, data modeling the situation in which the moving body is movedinto the move-to point, and checking whether the moving body andstructural element will interfere with each other, and when determiningthat they will, for recognizing from the generated modeling data alocation on the moving body, where it will interfere with the structuralelement, and transmitting the recognized interference location to saiddisplay-directing-point setting processor and transmitting an alarmsignal to said control execution processing unit; wherein saiddisplay-directing-point setting processor is configured in such a mannerthat on receiving the interference location from said interferencelookout processor, said display-directing-point setting processorupdates the data relating to the display-directing point stored in saiddisplay-directing point data storage so that the received interferencelocation becomes the display-directing point; and said control executionprocessing unit is configured in such a manner that on receiving thealarm signal from said interference lookout processor, said controlexecution processing unit halts movement of the moving body.
 2. Amachine-tool controller as set forth in claim 1, further comprising amove-to point predicting unit for receiving from said control executionprocessing unit at least a current point of the moving body, to predictfrom the received current point the move-to point to which the movingbody will have moved after elapse of a predetermined period of time;wherein said screen display processor and said interference lookoutprocessor are configured to, in generating data modeling the situationin which the moving body has been moved, receive from said move-to pointpredicting unit the predicted move-to point for the moving body, andgenerate, based on the received predicted move-to point and on themodeling data stored in said modeling data storage, data modeling thesituation in which the moving body has been moved into the predictedmove-to point.
 3. A controller provided in a machine tool furnished witha plurality of moving bodies, with a feed mechanism for driving themoving bodies to move them, with one or more structural elementsarranged within the regions in which the moving bodies can move, andwith a screen display means for displaying image data, the machine-toolcontroller comprising: a control execution processing unit controlling,based on operational commands for the moving bodies, actuation of thefeed mechanism to control at least move-to points for the moving bodies;a modeling data storage storing modeling data relating totwo-dimensional as well as three-dimensional models of, and including atleast geometry data defining shapes of, the moving bodies and one ormore structural elements; a screen display processor receiving themoving-body move-to points from said control execution processing unitto generate, based on the received move-to points and on the modelingdata stored in the modeling data storage, data modeling the situation inwhich the moving bodies have been moved into the move-to points, and forgenerating in accordance with the generated modeling data, and havingthe screen display means display onscreen, two-dimensional orthree-dimensional image data; a display-directing-point settingprocessor executing a process of defining display-directing points beingdefined respectively for the moving bodies and being positions servingas referents when the moving bodies are displayed onscreen; and adisplay-directing point data storage storing data relating to thedisplay-directing points of the moving bodies defined by saiddisplay-directing-point selling processor; wherein said screen displayprocessor is configured to, in generating image data to be displayedonscreen, check among the plurality of moving bodies for moving bodiesthat are in motion, based on the generated modeling data, and wherehaving confirmed moving bodies in motion to be a plurality, to divide anonscreen display area of the screen display means into a plurality ofdisplay zones in such a manner that the moving bodies confirmed to be inmotion are respectively displayed, and to generate and onscreen-displaythe image data in such a manner that the central positions of thedivided display zones coincide respectively with the display-directingpoints of the moving bodies to be displayed in the display zones storedin said display-directing point data storage; and said screen displayprocessor is configured to, where having confirmed moving bodies inmotion to be one, generate and onscreen-display the image data in such amanner that the central position of the onscreen display area of thescreen display means coincides with the display-directing point of themoving body stored in said display-directing point data storage.
 4. Amachine-tool controller as set forth in claim 3, further comprising aninterference lookout processor receiving from said control executionprocessing unit the move-to points for the moving bodies, forgenerating, based on the received move-to points and on the modelingdata stored in said modeling data storage, data modeling the situationin which the moving bodies are moved into the move-to points, andchecking whether the moving bodies and structural elements willinterfere with each other, and when determining that they will, forrecognizing from the generated modeling data locations on the movingbodies, where they will interfere with the structural elements, andtransmitting the recognized interference locations to saiddisplay-directing-point setting processor and transmitting an alarmsignal to said control execution processing unit; wherein saiddisplay-directing-point setting processor is configured in such a mannerthat on receiving the interference locations from said interferencelookout processor, said display-directing-point setting processorupdates the data relating to the display-directing points stored in saiddisplay-directing point data storage so that the received interferencelocations of the moving bodies become the display-directing pointsthereof; and said control execution processing unit is configured insuch a manner that on receiving the alarm signal from said interferencelookout processor, said control execution processing unit halts movementof the moving bodies.
 5. A machine-tool controller as set forth in claim3, further comprising a move-to point predicting unit receiving fromsaid control execution processing unit at least current points of themoving bodies, to predict from the received current points the move-topoints to which the moving bodies will have moved after elapse of apredetermined period of time; wherein said screen display processor andsaid interference lookout processor are configured to, in generatingdata modeling the situation in which the moving bodies have been moved,receive from said move-to point predicting unit the predicted move-topoints for the moving bodies, and generate, based on the receivedpredicted move-to points and on the modeling data stored in saidmodeling data storage, data modeling the situation in which the movingbodies have been moved into the predicted move-to points.
 6. Acontroller provided in a machine tool furnished with a plurality ofmoving bodies, with a feed mechanism for driving the moving bodies tomove them, with one or more structural elements arranged within theregions in which the moving bodies can move, and with a screen displaymeans for displaying image data, the machine-tool controller comprising:a control execution processing unit controlling, based on operationalcommands for the moving bodies, actuation of the feed mechanism tocontrol at least move-to points for the moving bodies; a modeling datastorage storing modeling data relating to two-dimensional as well asthree-dimensional models of, and including at least geometry datadefining shapes of, the moving bodies and one or more structuralelements; a screen display processor receiving the moving-body move-topoints from said control execution processing unit to generate, based onthe received move-to points and on the modeling data stored in themodeling data storage, data modeling the situation in which the movingbodies have been moved into the move-to points, and for generating inaccordance with the generated modeling data, and having the screendisplay means display onscreen, two-dimensional or three-dimensionalimage data; a display-directing-point selling processor executing aprocess of defining display-directing points being defined respectivelyfor the moving bodies and being positions serving as referents when themoving bodies are displayed onscreen; and a display-directing point datastorage storing data relating to the display-directing points of themoving bodies defined by said display-directing-point selling processor;wherein said screen display processor is configured to receive fromoutside the processor a display-format identifying signal concerning inwhich display format the display images that are onscreen-displayed onthe screen display means are displayed—a first display format by whicheach of the plurality of moving bodies is onscreen-displayed on thescreen display means, or a second display format by which a single ofthe moving bodies is onscreen-displayed on the screen display means—andwhen displaying in the second display format to receive from outside theprocessor a moving-body identifying signal concerning which of themoving bodies is to be displayed; and said screen display processor isconfigured to, in generating and onscreen-displaying the image data,recognize, from the display-format identifying signal, in which of thedisplay formats to display the image data, and when the recognizeddisplay format is the first display format, to divide an onscreendisplay area of the screen display means into a plurality of displayzones in which each of the moving bodies may respectively be displayed,and to generate and onscreen-display the image data in such a mannerthat the central positions of the divided display zones coinciderespectively with the display-directing points of the moving bodies tobe displayed in the display zones stored in said display-directing pointdata storage, and when the recognized display format is the seconddisplay format, further to recognize, from the moving-body identifyingsignal, which of the moving bodies is to be displayed, and to generateand onscreen-display the image data in such a manner that the centralposition of the onscreen display area of the screen display meanscoincides with the display-directing point of the moving body to bedisplayed stored in said display-directing point data storage.
 7. Amachine-tool controller as set forth in claim 6, further comprising aninterference lookout processor receiving from said control executionprocessing unit the move-to points for the moving bodies, forgenerating, based on the received move-to points and on the modelingdata stored in said modeling data storage, data modeling the situationin which the moving bodies are moved into the move-to points, andchecking whether the moving bodies and structural elements willinterfere with each other, and when determining that they will, forrecognizing from the generated modeling data locations on the movingbodies, where they will interfere with the structural elements, andtransmitting the recognized interference locations to saiddisplay-directing-point setting processor and transmitting an alarmsignal to said control execution processing unit; wherein saiddisplay-directing-point setting processor is configured in such a mannerthat on receiving the interference locations from said interferencelookout processor, said display-directing-point setting processorupdates the data relating to the display-directing points stored in saiddisplay-directing point data storage, so that the received interferencelocations of the moving bodies become the display-directing pointsthereof; and said control execution processing unit is configured insuch a manner that on receiving the alarm signal from said interferencelookout processor, said control execution processing unit halts movementof the moving bodies.
 8. A machine-tool controller as set forth in claim6, further comprising a move-to point predicting unit for receiving fromsaid control execution processing unit at least current points of themoving bodies, to predict from the received current points the move-topoints to which the moving bodies will have moved after elapse of apredetermined period of time; wherein said screen display processor andsaid interference lookout processor are configured to, in generatingdata modeling the situation in which the moving bodies have been moved,receive from said move-to point predicting unit the predicted move-topoints for the moving bodies, and generate, based on the receivedpredicted move-to points and on the modeling data stored in saidmodeling data storage, data modeling the situation in which the movingbodies have been moved into the predicted move-to points.